SAN ANTONIO – Mark Helfrich said Matt Lubick will call offensive plays in the 2016 Valero Alamo Bowl Saturday and will assume the role of offensive coordinator going forward.
Lubick, who joined the Oregon coaching staff in 2013 as the wide receivers coach, will call plays for the first time this season. He also will permanently fill the void that former offensive coordinator Scott Frost left after he left to become the head coach at University of Central Florida.
“Matt is an outstanding coach,” Helfrich said Friday during a coaches press conference.
What happens to the wide receivers coach position remains to be seen. Helfrich said that they will address that after the bowl game.
But, Lubick’s promotion cements what was presumed by many to be the eventual decision by Helfrich.
Since he began coaching wide receivers, Lubick’s been known for what Helfrich termed a “tireless” work ethic. Bralon Addison said he’s heard stories Helfrich had to to tell Lubick to leave the office multiple times.
“Matt is extremely detail-oriented, he’s a very good recruiter and players really take to him,” said Helfrich.
Addison added that he hoped Lubick would become an “important stick” as the offensive play caller in not just the Alamo Bowl but the following season when speaking to the media Wednesday.
So, he’s clearly going to be pleased with the news. Part of the reason Helfrich said he promoted Lubick before the game was because he didn’t want it to be viewed as a “job audition” — especially considering the opponent is a Gary Patterson coached TCU defense. It will be the first time Lubick, in his 20 years of coaching, will call plays.
With the promotion, Lubick is also due what appears to be a substantial raise. Scott Frost received $755,000 this year, while Lubick, as the receivers coach, had a salary of $367,416.
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